Carburetor air cleaner and humidifier



Feb. 16, 1954 |NGLESBY I 2,669,319-

CARBURETOR AIR CLEANER AND HUMIDIFIER h Filed Nov. 19, 1951 5E? i f I? 1:

5; H r 14 I8 (40 Joseph Inglesby i1. JNVENTOR.

if sygzmwm Patented Feb. 16, 1954 CARBURETOR AIR CLEANER AND HUMIDIFIER Joseph Inglesby, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application November 19, 1951, Serial No. 257,016 2 Claims. (Cl. 183-17) This invention relates to a carburetor breather and particularly for a device to be applied to the intake of a carburetor to supply water vapor to the air taken into the carburetor.

It has long been noted that on rainy days, in general, combustion engines operate more efiiciently than on dry days. It is accordingly apparent, that the water vapor in the air attributes I to the efiiciency of internal combustion motors,

particularly the motors used on motor vehicles in wet or inclement weather.

The present invention relates to a device of this condition in motors. The ordinary air breather of the motor and carburetor is replaced by a vaporizing chamber which introduces water vapor into the air being taken into the carburetor so that the engine operates with the efficiency that would otherwise be obtained on moist or rainy days.

The breather according to the present inven tion provides a container adapted to contain a quantity of water and a capillary member to bring the water into contact with the stream of air flowing through the breather into the intake manifold of the carburetor.

It is accordingly an object of his invention to provide an improved breather for a carburetor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide 'a' breather which introduces water vapor into the intake air of a carburetor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an air cleaner having means for introducing water vapor into the air cleaned thereby.

Other objects and many of the attendant ad vantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the carburetor vaporizer;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken substantially on the plane indicated on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross section taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention a carburetor breather indicated generally at has a cylindrical side wall It and a bottom wall M which is rigidly secured and preferably, integrally secured, to the side walls It. A tubular member I6 is axially secured in the container Ill and has a portion l8 extending therefrom which is usually provided with a clamp 20 for securing the tubular element It to the induction conduit 22 of a carburetor indicated generally at 24.

The upper portion 26 of the walls It is pro vided with a plurality of perforations 28 through which air may be taken into the container It. The container I0 is provided with a cover 39 which fits substantially air tight around the wall I 2 and has an arcuate central portion spaced from the end of the tubular member I 6. A spider 32 is mounted within the tubular member l6 and has rigidly connected thereto an extending bolt 34 which is provided with a threaded end 36 which extends through an opening 38 of the cover 30 and is secured in place by means of a wing nut 40 which applies tension to the cover to maintain it rigidly in place.

An annular flange 42 is secured to the walls i2 below the perforated portion 26 and has an upstanding lip 44, a cylindrical screen member 46 is mounted on the flange 42 preferably attached to the upstanding lip 44 and extends upwardly across the portion 26 having the perforations 28 therein. The annular space between the screen 46 and the perforated portion of the walls I2 is filled with a filling material such as shredded bronze covered with oil.

An annular top member is secured within the container l0 adjacent the top thereof and above the perforations 28 and extends adjacent to but spaced from the tubular member I6 so that there is an air passage between the inner edge of the top 56 and the tubular member i6. Air then comes in through the perforations 28 goes through the filter material 43 and passes through the container and through the passage between the top 59 and the tubular member I6 and then through the space between the end of the tubular member and the top 30 into the tubular member and passing downwardly into the intake of the carburetor.

In order to supply humidity to the air intake passing into the intake the bottom of the container is provided with a portion adapted to contain water or other vaporizable material. Preferably a filler spout 5 3 is provided on the side of the container It and has a filler cap 56 secured thereon. An annular cylinder of cellular water absorbing or water conducting material such as a cellulose sponge is mounted in the bottom of the container in a portion adapted to contain water and extends upwardly adjacent the top of the container.

The top of the cylindrical water carrying member t terminate adjacent the top 56 and is provided with serrations B2 to provide a plurality of relatively small passages 64 between the water carrying member and the top 50 of the container. Consequently, the air entering through the perforations 28 passes through the filter 48 into the space inside the breather l0 and through or adjacent to the spongy material 60 where it picks up water from the water carrying material and then passes through th relatively small openings 65 into the space 66 between the members 60 and the tubular member IS. The now humidified air then passes upward through the passage 52 into the space between the top 50 and the cover 30 and is directed downwardly to the tubular member Iii.

The air is further conditioned by being brought into contact with an oil soaked pad 10 which is supported in a trough 12 mounted on the top 50 of the container. The oil soaked pad 10 rests on the top so that it may be readily removed by removing the top 30 for cleaning or re-oiling.

For purposes of exemplification a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown, and described according to the best present understanding thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that many changes and. modifications, can be made therein without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A vaporizer comprising a cylindrical container, a tubular member forming a passage extending axially through said container, a bottom in said container secured in fluid tight relation to said tubular member, th upper side wall portion of said container having a plurality of perforations therein, a cover on said container, said cover being spaced from the end of said tubular member whereby air may pass through said perforations and through said chamber into said tubular member, an annular flange secured to the wall of said container below the perforated portion, an annular screen secured on said flange and extending upwardly in spaced relation to the perforated portion of said wall, a filling of filter material in the space between said annular screen and said perforated wall, the bottom portion of said container being adapted to hold water, an annular cylinder of water conducting material extending between said wall of said container and said tubular member, said annular cylinder being spaced from said side wall and from said tubular member, an annular top in said container, said top extending in spaced relation to said tubular member, said annular cylinder extending into contact with said top, the top of said cylinder being serrated to provide passages between said cylinder and said top.

2. A vaporizer comprising a cylindrical container, a tubular member forming a passage extending axially through said container, a bottom in said container secured in fluid tight relation to said tubular member, the upper side wall portion of said container having a plurality of perforations therein, a cover on said container, said cover being spaced from the end of said tubular member whereby air may pass through said perforations and through said chamber into said tubular member, an annular flange secured to the wall of said container below the perforated portion, an annular screen secured on said flange and extending upwardly in spaced relation to the perforated portion of said wall, a filling of filter material in the space between said annular screen andsaid perforated wall, the bottom portion of said container being adapted to hold water, an annular cylinder of water conducting material extending between said wall of said container and said tubular member, said annular cylinder being spaced from said side wall and from said tubular member, an annular top in said container, said top extending in spaced relation to said tubular member, said annular cylinder extending into contact with said top, the top of said cylinder being serrated to provide passages between said cylinder and said top, a pad on said top adapted to contain oil.

JOSEPH INGLESBY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

